Hampshire South West Regional Division 2

HYTHE & DIBDEN 2nd XI vs BASHLEY RYDAL IV

28th June 2008

Dropped Catches Lose Matches

Hythe took Bashley to the final over before going down by 5 wickets yesterday afternoon but the game could have been so different had they held onto 5 catches. Bashley were boosted by the inclusion of R.Knowles who played regularly last season in the Southern League - he topped scored with 55.

Hythe won the toss and elected to bat first.

On a pleasant but windy afternoon Hythe won the toss and acting skipper Sean Tongs elected to bat first on a good track. With Wayne Effeny stuck in traffic and Mike Bowman trying to get from work in time it seemed a reasonable choice.

Sean Tongs again opened with Tom Porter and the pair got Hythe off to a flying start. with 49 coming off the first 10 overs. Porter hit T.O'Sullivan for a six and Tongs hit three boundarys early on. At 59 in the 18th over though Hythe lost their first wicket when Porter was caught and bowled by Scott for 18.

Wayne Effeny joined Tongs to add another 30 when at 89 Hythe lost their second wicket - Tongs stumped off the first ball after drinks break in the 22 over. Mike Edwards came in and hit a six early on but he only made 12 before birng 3rd out at 114. Four runs later it was 118 for 4 Effeny caught in the slips off Gunnell - the first of three catches in the slips for Ayling. Hythe 118 for 4 off 31 - the last 10 overs Bashley reducing Hythe to scoring only 3 an over.

Dennis Wheeler joined skipper Mike Bowman at the crease hitting 2 fours before being fifth out at 133 for 11. Bowman was moving along steadily having to run all his runs except one six off Gunnell. Chasing runs Hythe then collapsed losing Russell Moore (1) and Matt Young (2). Mike bowman finished on 31 not out and Chalky White 1 not out as Hythe ended their innings on 167 for 7 after being 89 for 1 at 21 overs.

For Bashley M.Figgins 2-40, W.Gunnell 2-43, and M.O'Sullivan 2-26 off 9 did the damage and restricted the scoring.

On a good wicket Hythe new they were going to have to bowl well to get anything out of the game especially with Knowles making a guest IV XI appearance for Bashley. Mike Edwards decided he wanted to bowl down the hill so Mike Bowman opened with Edwards and Chalky White up the hill.

With a quick wicket needed it was White who got the breakthrough in the 4th over - G.Jones caught and bowled for 0 Bashley 4-1 off 4.Veteran Richard King joined Knowles and the pair showed the Hythe bowlers some respect early on. At he 10 over mark Bashley 21 for 1 - White's 5 overs going for just 13 and Edwards impressively 8.

With the Hythe openers bowling so well Mike Bowman decided to bowl them through to the 20 over stage where Bashley were 61 for 1. Knowles as now in full flow after being dropped by Tom Porter and a dolly by Pete Stevens. King too had his luck as he too was dropped by a another dolly from Pete Stevens.

At 75 though and just as Hythe did - Bashley lost a second wicket just after the drinks break when King was very well caught by Bowman in the slips off White for 19. Very next ball Knowles was caught by Wheeler off Effeny for 55 and Bashley 75 for 3 off 22. White finished his spell of 12 with 2-41 which meant Bowman had to run to youth. He decided on Gregg Woods coming up the hill.

G.Clifford had joined veteran M.Figgins at the crease and whilst Figgins did everything in 1's and 2's Clifford only scored in boundarys hitting 30 with 6 fours and one six. The pair took the score to 117 in the 30th over when Effeny caught and bowled Clifford for 30. 12 overs to go 45 needed for Bashley. Hythe had their chances Figgins was dropped in the slips by Bowman similar to the catch he took earlier and Ayling was let off by 13 year old Matt Young behing the stumps.

Hythe kept going though and kept themselves in the game right upto the final overs. 45 runs later and in the pemultimate over Ayling was bowled by Effeny for 26 - Bashley who looked comfortable winners 10 overs earlier now needed 6 off the final over to win. Mike Edwards to bowl and a dot ball off the first was followed by a leg bye off the second , 2 byes off the third which was unfortunate for Young as it was the first runs he had conceeded all afternoon. Bashley closing in 3 needed off three - Bettle smashed Edwards to the boundary and Bashley had won by 5 wickets.

Another defeat for Hythe but a good game - considering they were without Howe, Miller, Pete Stevens snr and Powell they did very well and In Bashley provided they can keep their players your probably looking at promotion candidates.

Innings of : HYTHE 167 For 7 (42 Overs)

Innings of : Bashley Rydal IV 169 For 5 (41.4Overs)

(R.Knowles 55, G.Clifford 30, R.Ayling 26, R.King 19)

Hythe Bowling